NCGA THANKS GROWERS, ENCOURAGES MORE EPA RESPONSES

JANUARY 2014

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(Posted Thu. Jan 16th, 2014)

Jan. 16: The National Corn Growers Association today thanked the thousands of corn farmers and their allies around the country who have submitted comments urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to retract its proposed 10 percent cut in the amount of corn ethanol in the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard.

“We’ve seen a terrific grassroots response on behalf of our growers and our state affiliates, who have pulled out all the stops to make sure the farmer voice is heard loud and clear,” said NCGA President Martin Barbre, an Illinois corn grower. As the deadline approaches, we urge those who have not yet spoken out, to do so immediately.”

Barbre cited, in particular, a deceptive new “robocall” campaign by the American Petroleum Institute that left pre-recorded messages on voicemails across the country, even on farmers’ phones.

“Seeing how great our response has been, it’s not surprising Big Oil is feeling the heat,” he said. “But if they think that harassing farming families with impersonal dinnertime calls is a smart tactic, we’re happy to see them waste their money.”

In addition to commenting to the EPA, farmers have been calling the White House and Congress by the thousands, Barbre said, noting that the decision to roll back the use of domestic, renewable ethanol appears to be primarily a political decision.

“There’s no reason to cut ethanol and create the potential for economic havoc in the heartland when we’ve got an abundance of corn,” Barbre said. “Farmers and consumers should not pay the price for the oil industry’s reluctance to move forward and embrace a cleaner, smarter fuel future.”